Following an incredible four-year stretch (58 wins), Carver girls tennis will have to reload in 2014

Friday

Apr 4, 2014 at 3:47 PMApr 4, 2014 at 4:10 PM

With a new coach and just three returning starters from last year's 18-win season, it might be time to reevaluate and reassess expectations for the Carver girls tennis program in 2014.

Adam Ellis aellis@wickedlocal.com @AE24_7sports

CARVER – The Carver girls tennis team has raised the bar exceptionally high in the past four seasons, collecting 59 wins and taking the program to unrivaled and extraordinary heights. But with a new coach and just three returning starters from last year’s 18-win season, it might be time to reevaluate and reassess expectations for the program in 2014.

Matt Cartmill, a 32-year-old Carver public schools teacher, takes over the team after 11 seasons with Brian Lamoureux at the helm. Cartmill is a former collegiate tennis player (Colby-Sawyer College) and following his playing days as a Charger, coached at Exeter High School in New Hampshire. He was also Barnstable High School’s all-time winningest player upon graduation in 2000.

As he explains, his coaching philosophy is to “play as a team, support each other and work hard and play smart to reach a common goal.”

“We try to remain positive,” he added. “Everyone can always improve.”

Carver will certainly improve at No. 1 where senior stalwart Casey Armanetti returns another a year stronger, set to defend a 74 percent career win percentage.

“As the lone senior and one of the captains on the team, Casey is leading by example on and off the court,” Cartmill said. “The younger players can learn from her.”

Armanetti netted the 50th win of her career in a 4-1 season-opening win over Abington Tuesday afternoon.

“She is hitting the ball well and using her mind to her advantage,” Cartmill said of the senior captain who is 50-18 in four-plus years of varsity play, predominantly spent at the No. 1 and 2 seeds. “She’s hitting shots with great placement and anticipating her opponent’s actions, which puts her in a great position to close out points.”

While Cartmill is expecting a bevy of points from Armanetti, the remainder of the roster remains a bit of a mystery.

The Lady Crusaders graduated four starters in 2013, including No. 2 player Caroline McCarthy. McCarthy set a program record with 58 wins over her career, winning 66 percent of her matches spent battling at the top two spots. Junior Brooke Pierce is slated to try and step into her big shoes. Pierce got off to a good start in the opener, beating Green Wave opponent Alyssa Devlin by a score of 6-1, 6-0. Pierce spent most of her time at first doubles last season, netting an impressive 16-4 marking. She has been a fixture in the lineup for the past two seasons.

Playing behind Pierce in the No. 3 slot is freshman Maggie McCarthy, younger sister of Caroline. Maggie went 11-8 as an eighth-grader, predominantly playing at second doubles.

With both Pierce and McCarthy making the leap to singles, that means the doubles pairings are completely new and untested.

First doubles is made up of Olivia Pelletier and Raven Reitano, while Haley Kennedy and Bridget O’Connor currently reside in the second slot. Pelletier and Reitano netted their first varsity wins, taking a third-set tiebreaker, 7-2.

“It has been a positive experience so far,” Cartmill said, adding that he was grateful to return to the game after being away for a couple of years. “They’re a great group of hard-working, dedicated girls.”

As Cartmill is still getting his feet wet and getting to know his players better, he was hesitant to make any predictions about a fifth-straight postseason appearance for Carver, explaining he’d be content if the team continues to get better each and every day of the season.

“My expectation is that everyone can give everything they have each day,” he said. “And they can learn from that to improve their game by participating, listening and watching their teammates.”

The team was scheduled to host East Bridgewater Thursday afternoon. They’ll get their first stiff test of the season when the face-off against the reigning Div. 3 sectional and South Shore League champions, the Cohasset Skippers.